Ukraine Crisis: Putin Says He Could Capture Kiev In 2 Weeks If He Wanted To

A flag shows support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A man walks past cutting boards, that have been painted with images of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, at a street store in the center of St. Petersburg on Aug. 31, 2014. Photo: Reuters/Alexander Demianchuk

"If I want, I could take Kiev in two weeks," Putin allegedly said. He reportedly made the boast in a phone call to outgoing European Commission President Manuel Barroso, who told other European leaders about it at the EU summit in Brussels Saturday.

The remark came as European leaders considered imposing more sanctions against Russia for its role in ongoing strife in Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists have been fighting government forces. Russian officials pressed for a cease-fire Monday following warnings from Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey that a great war "the likes of which Europe has not seen since the Second World War" is coming, the Washington Post reported.